-Written by Michelle Vorob.
2024 Screamfest Review!
The Witch. Revenge is a folklore horror film by Andriy Kolesnyk, which takes place during the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Akin to if a modern day witch story took place here, in Salem, Massachusetts, The Witch. Revenge takes place in and around Konotop, an area brimming with witch folklore.
Now, I'll start by saying this was an entertaining film, overall. As far as personal preference, I tend to enjoy folklore stories a little more when they take place in ancient and medieval times, however, the setting of The Witch. Revenge works. Plus, if anything would lend itself to real horror, it would certainly be the backdrop of a real invasion.
Olena (Tetiana Malkova) and Andriy (Taras Tsymbaliuk) are a soon-to-be married, happy couple, on their way to visit family when Russian soldiers stop them on a desolate road in the woods. Olena and Andriy don't want any trouble, but the soldiers are dangerous and already plan to kill the couple and take the car. Olena and Andriy try to defend themselves against the soldiers, and Andriy is mortally wounded. Olena escapes to her Aunt Evdokiya's (Olena Khokhlatkina) house, where she puts Andriy to rest and uses her powers to call upon a dark spirit for revenge. You see, Olena is a strong and ancient witch [perhaps THE witch from The Witch of Konotop by Hryhorii Kvitka-Osnovianenko] and Andriy was her one true love. The soldiers are about to get payback.
Olena's transformation as she harnesses dark magic is pretty great. Not to oversell it, but I thought it was spectacular. The special effects used to alter Olena, both in visual special effects and make-up special effects, was one of my favorite things about this movie. Aside from Olena, some scenes had really great gore and blood effects, some were a little off, but it was still entertaining.
Now, a note of caution, a trigger warning, this film contains a rape scene [actually more than one] and while important to the story, is not easy to watch. I applaud all of the actors involved in portraying something so difficult and doing it so well.
So, where does that leave us? As far as The Witch. Revenge, this particular group of invaders certainly get what's coming to them. Maybe I would've liked to see snippets of an origin story, in regard to Olena and her power. Before I watched the movie, after reading the brief synopsis, my thought was the murder of her fiancé brought on her witch powers, or caused her to seek out witch powers. Finding out she was ancient and in control of her power made me want to know more about her history. There's a prequel in all of that hidden history, if Kolesnyk wanted to pursue that, but my thought is that The Witch. Revenge is meant to impart a specific message about current events and I would say it was effective.
Directed by Andriy Kolesnyk
Written by Yaroslav Voitseshek
Starring Tetiana Malkova, Taras Tsymbaliuk, Olena Khokhlatkina, Pavel Vishniakov, Serhii Sosnovtsev, Ivan Sharan, Artem Sahitov, Yaroslav Shakhtorin, Vladyslav Verbytskyi, Rostyslav Fomenko, Mykyta Slobodeniuk, Mykola Holovchak, Serhii Anipchenko, Daniil Kino, Oleksandra Pankova, etc.
8/10 - WORTH RENTING OR BUYING
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